Family of Kingsley Burrell protest outside CPS office

An inquest found officers at the centre of a probe into the father-of-two's death will not be prosecuted

Written by Poppy Brady
16/07/2014 10:35 AM

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THE FIGHT GOES ON: Kingsley Burrell's sister Kadisha Brown-Burrell demonstrates outside the West Midlands CPS building with Maxie Hayles (left) and other supporters

THE DETERMINED sister of Kingsley Burrell led a protest outside Birmingham’s offices for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in her long campaign to find out who is responsible for her brother’s death.

Kadisha Brown-Burrell says she will never give up fighting for justice for her 29-year-old brother who died in March 2011 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QE) following contact with police.

Last month the CPS announced there was “insufficient evidence” to prosecute four police officers and six NHS staff who were involved in treating or caring for Kingsley in the days and hours before he died.

Kingsley died three days after dialling 999 for police help because he felt he was about to be attacked by a gang while he was out walking with his young son. He was transferred to a mental health unit and then the QE before he died.

“We as a family simply refuse to accept this,” said Kadisha. “We will simply never give up. Plenty is still happening behind the scenes – that is why we are keeping this campaign going.

“My brother was a normal person from the community with no history of mental illness, yet he ends up being detained under the Mental Health Act and dies in hospital. We need to know the truth.”

Her sister Lorraine Brown added: “We feel very upset because the system has let us down. It’s not right that people like my brother can die in their care and no-one is held accountable.”

Maxie Hayles, who has supported the three year campaign, which has included marches in London, added: “We are not going to allow our people to be murdered in custody and let them get away with it.”

Campaigners said they planned to hold further peaceful protests outside the CPS building in Colmore Gate, Birmingham, on the second Monday of each month.

Community activist Desmond Jaddoo added: “The view that there is a two-tier justice system is gaining ground. Every decision by the CPS regarding the African Caribbean community always leaves unanswered questions.

“It adds fuel to the fire of this two-tier system debate – there is no level playing field. It sends a message that anyone in uniform can be immune from prosecution, irrespective of the circumstances.

“The recent case of the Cherry Groce inquest verdict raises this issue where it was found that police failings contributed to her death. It took the family 30 years to hear that.”

A spokesperson for the CPS said: Any cases sent to the CPS for a charging decision are assessed in accordance with the Director’s Guidance for charging and the Code for Crown Prosecutors, which ensures that prosecutors take a consistent approach to charging decisions. These are based solely on whether there is sufficient evidence and if it is in the public interest to prosecute.”

Posted on: 16/07/2014 10:35 AM

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